Silicone ammonium salts and photoresponsive devices containing same

Abstract

This invention is directed to a photoresponsive device comprised of a substrate, a photoconductive composition comprised of an inorganic photoconductive composition, or a layered organic photoresponsive device comprised of a photogenerating layer and a charge transport layer, followed by an overcoating top layer of a silicone resin containing therein a silicone containing ammonium salt of the formula ##STR1## wherein, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , are independently selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and substituted aliphatic radicals, wherein the substituents include for example alkyl radicals, R 4 is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic radicals, substituted aliphatic radicals, and the group ##STR2## wherein Y is a number of from about 2 to about 4, and R 5 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical, X is an anion, and Z is a number of from 1 to about 5.

We claim: 
     
       1. An improved photoresponsive device consisting essentially of a substrate, a photoconductive composition comprised of an inorganic photoconductive composition, or a layered organic photoresponsive device comprised of a photogenerating layer and a charge transport layer, followed by an overcoating top layer of a silicone resin containing therein as an adhesive layer a silicone containing ammonium salt of the formula ##STR12## wherein, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , are independently selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and substituted aliphatic radicals, R 4  is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic radicals, substituted aliphatic radicals, and the group ##STR13## wherein Y is anumber of from about 2 to about 4, and R 5  is hydrogen or an alkyl radical, X is an anion, and Z is a number of from 1 to about 5. 
     
     
       2. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is present as a separate layer situated between the silicone resin top coating and the inorganic photoconductive composition. 
     
     
       3. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are alkyl radicals containing from about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, X is halogen, and y is 3. 
     
     
       4. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are methyl, X is chloride, and y is 3. 
     
     
       5. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is methacryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] ammonium chloride. 
     
     
       6. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is methacryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] acetate. 
     
     
       7. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is methacryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] formate. 
     
     
       8. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is methacryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] bromide. 
     
     
       9. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is methacryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] chloride. 
     
     
       10. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is acryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] ammonium chloride. 
     
     
       11. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is acryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] acetate. 
     
     
       12. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is acryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] formate. 
     
     
       13. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is acryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] bromide. 
     
     
       14. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is acryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] chloride. 
     
     
       15. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is acryloxy ethyl dimethyl [3-trimethoxy silyl propyl] acetate. 
     
     
       16. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are ethyl, X is chloride, and Y is the number 3. 
     
     
       17. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inorganic photoconductive composition is comprised of amorphous selenium. 
     
     
       18. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inorganic photoconductive composition is comprised of an amorphous selenium alloy. 
     
     
       19. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the selenium alloy is an arsenic selenium alloy, a selenium tellurium alloy, a halogen doped selenium substance, or a halogen doped selenium alloy. 
     
     
       20. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the halogen is chlorine. 
     
     
       21. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the organic photoconductive composition is comprised of a generating layer containing vanadyl phthalocyanine or triganal selenium, and the transport layer is comprised of N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine dispersed in a polycarbonate resin. 
     
     
       22. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 21 wherein the charge transport layer is in contact with an aluminum substrate and the photogenerating layer is the top layer in contact with the transport layer. 
     
     
       23. A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the layered organic photoresponsive device is comprised of a transport layer, a photogenerating layer in contact therewith, and as a top layer a halogen doped selenium alloy. 
     
     
       24. An improved photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the resulting device has a residual potential of substantially zero. 
     
     
       25. An improved photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 22 wherein the silicone containing ammonium salt is present as a separate layer situated between the silicone top coating and the transport layer. 
     
     
       26. An improved photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the residual potential of the resulting device ranges from about 13 volts to about 30 volts.